Springfield police will select the winning entry from its "name that police dog" contest on Monday. For now, the newest member of its K-9 unit goes by a moniker befitting an early Clint Eastwood movie: "the dog with no name."Springfield police photo

SPRINGFIELD — By Monday morning, the Springfield Police Department’s “dog with no name” should have a name.

The newest member of the department's K-9 corps, a male German Shepherd, is at the moment undergoing training to do police work with his partner, Springfield Police Officer Thomas Horne. At the moment, the dog has no name, but by Monday that should change.

The Springfield police have scheduled a public unveiling of the department’s newest police dog, and as part of the event, a name for the dog also will be unveiled, said Sgt. John Delaney, aide to Police Commissioner William Fitchet.

The event is planned for 10 a.m. at the White Street School, 300 White St. Members of the public are invited to attend, Delaney said.

The school was selected for the ceremony because students in the fourth grade played a part in the naming by way of a “name that police dog” contest. Students in the fourth grade were asked to write an essay about what a good name for the dog would be and why.

The seven officers in police K-9 unit will select the winning entry, and the student who wrote the essay will be presented with a plaque expressing the appreciation of the Springfield police. A similar plaque will be presented to the principle for the entire fourth grade, Delaney said.

White Street School was selected for the contest because Horne grew up in Springfield and attended that school.

Horne has been a K-9 officer with the Springfield police for more than 10 years. His most recent partner, Marco, retired after eight years of service to the department.

“The dog with no name” comes to the city from Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation of Bloomfield, Conn. Fidelco traditionally raises and trains German Shepherds for work as guide dogs for the blind, but the agency also identifies dogs that might be better suited for police work.

Delaney said the non-profit organization supplied the dog at a cost of $1,500, which he said is significantly less expensive than the cost of police dogs previously from other suppliers.